Annual Meeting Retirement Sessions

Come get your 2.0 EA Ethics credit as we discuss case studies covering ethical challenges and dilemmas facing pension actuaries. Audience participation is highly encouraged.

Focus on making actuarial communications better with a focus on ASOPs that impact reports, etc.

Liability driven investment strategies have been around for almost two decades. Many retirement plan actuaries understand the high-level concept, but few have dug into the details to understand how the actual portfolio is constructed. Speakers in this session walk through the principles for constructing LDI portfolios and the detail of various ways these strategies are put together.

Were you ever interested in learning about public plans? How about differences in accounting treatment compared to public and private companies? At this session, practitioners introduce you to accounting in the GASB world.

It's been over five years since final regulations were issued for market-based cash balance plans. The IRS recently allowed cash balance plans to file for determination letters. Speakers discuss the current state of affairs with these plans.

Withdrawals, partitions, and suspensions, oh my! The world of multiemployer plans can sound like the endangered forest to single employer actuaries. Attend this session and learn as our experts improve your knowledge and rehabilitate you from your fear of these plans.

Many of us are working with several frozen pension plans. Once a pension plan is frozen, what's next? Speakers detail the path of a pension plan from frozen to termination. They also address strategies on DC plan designs that can help address the loss of the DB plan.

In two years ERISA will turn 50 years old. Whether you are under age 50 or already have passed that mark, don't let a refined knowledge of ERISA remain on your actuarial bucket list. Attend this session and start scratching that item off this year.

Pension plan actuaries have a good understanding of the legal, compliance, and actuarial aspects of plan terminations. But managing a plan's funded status during the termination process also requires actuaries to understand the investment considerations. This session will look at what drives the investment decisions that need to be made and what actuaries can do to ensure that your clients don't end up with funded status surprises during the termination process. We'll look at asset allocation decision points, what drives the ultimate settlement cost, and how the investment strategy can hedge against unexpected surprises when the final contribution comes due.

Government contractors obtain reimbursement under specified rules. Panelists review these rules and highlight areas that may be potential pitfall and other recent developments.

The speakers touch on a variety of complex and sometimes overlooked administrative issues including handling non-spouse beneficiaries and deferred beneficiaries; plan termination data readiness; and using the new RMD rules. Questions are welcome, and interactive case studies are presented.

Accounting for Defined Benefit plans is not always easy. At this session accounting firm professionals discuss advanced topics they experienced in client situations, considerations, and resolutions reached. Be prepared for an interactive session.

ADP, ACP, QSLOB, cross testing, gateway testing, plan aggregation, and QNECs are all common terms used in testing defined contribution plans. Come to this session to learn what these terms mean and how to navigate some of the more advanced nondiscrimination testing situations for DC plans.

Speakers discuss the latest developments in the private pension sector. Recent rulings and regulations - proposed and final - are covered in addition to pending retirement plan legislation and recent litigation activity.

The nature of variable annuity and market-based cash balance plans make the valuation of those plans much different from fixed-benefit plans. Speakers address the actuarial valuation of those plan designs for funding and accounting purposes.

Many sponsors have multiple retirement plans, and in several situations it might make sense to merge them. Similarly, there may be situations where it might make sense to transfer liabilities among plans.

Panelists review the process for terminations of small plans that are covered by the PBGC as well as non-PBGC plans. Speakers also review the strategies that can be used for plans that are either underfunded or overfunded, and cover other topics including missing participants, form of payment, final 5500 and tax reporting.

There are a host of issues to face when considering winding down a nonqualified plan. In many cases the relevant considerations and challenges for a nonqualified plan are the opposite of a qualified plan. Panelists address the strategy and steps needed to wind down and terminate a nonqualified plan.

This session will cover the plan design of a Defined Contribution program that meets both employee and employer retirement needs and can also be used as a tool for employer recruiting and retention. We will discuss the design of combination DB/DC plans as well as important plan features such as auto enrollment and escalation, portfolio design, participant education, benefit portability and other plan design features.

Panelists discuss how to handle situations involving the PBGC including: Plan Terminations; 4062(c); Reportable events; Funding waivers; and 4010.

Nonqualified plans have unique regulatory and legal considerations that are quite different (sometimes even opposite) from qualified plans. A panel of actuarial and legal experts in nonqualified plans will look at these issues, including IRC Sections 409A, 457(f), and 162(m), funding and tax implications, and reporting requirements with SEC and IRS.

Most plan sponsors have helped participants focus on the accumulation of retirement assets. Our speakers discuss strategies plan sponsors can think about while trying to help plan participants draw down on accumulated funds, in the presence or absence of an annuity.